Code of Conduct, Character and Support

In November 2013, the school district convened a 50-member task force, comprised of representatives from throughout the Syracuse community with a vested interest in the issue of school discipline in the Syracuse City Schools. Task force members included students, parents, teachers, principals, union leaders, community leaders, service providers and other SCSD staff. These individuals brought various perspectives and experiences to the table; however, they shared one common purpose: to create a Code of Conduct, Character and Support that clearly and concisely reinforces the roles and responsibilities of students, staff and parents; sets forth expectations for student behavior; ensures fair, appropriate and equitable student discipline practices; and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

A greater emphasis on accountable and restorative interventions that will support students to improve their behavior and experience greater success at school

A greater emphasis on promotion of positive social behaviors and prevention of discipline problems

Differentiated responses to discipline problems for students in grades Prekindergarten-5 and students in grades 6-12

More precise descriptions of behavior concerns and violations aligned to levels of specific interventions and consequences

More limited use of out-of-school suspension, in-school suspension, and removal of students from the classroom.

In the table on the right are some important documents dealing with various parts of the Code of Conduct, Character and Support that we feel you should read and become familiar with. The above hyperlink will also take you to a pdf of the full document.

The goal of the Syracuse Code of Conduct, Character and Support is to ensure all students’ right to an education in a safe, civil, and caring environment. It is based upon the laws, regulations, and policies that create access to education for all while protecting the due process rights of the individual. The Code recognizes that schools are public places that must balance individual rights with civic obligations and the responsibilities that make it possible to live in a free, open and democratic society. The Syracuse Code of Conduct, Character and Support serves as a guide to good citizenship and provides the tools for helping students to understand and appreciate the norms of behavior within the school culture.

The Code addresses both the development of student character and conduct. An individual’s character reflects his or her attitudes, attributes, and moral convictions which shape his or her conduct. The development of good character is essential to healthy development and responsible behavior, academic success in school today, and future success in college, career, and life.

The Code ensures that schools provide equal access to a wide range of supports and interventions that promote positive behavior, help students develop self-discipline and social and emotional efficacy, and enable students to improve and correct inappropriate, unacceptable, and unskillful behaviors.

Reduce overuse and disproportionate use of in-school and out-of-school suspensions and school discipline referrals.

Establish schoolwide expectations that all adults are committed to support.

Establish schoolwide rules that all adults are committed to support and enforce.

Ensure that classrooms and public spaces are safe, civil, and orderly.

Maximize every school’s capacity to promote positive behaviors; prevent inappropriate, unacceptable, and unskillful behaviors; and support improved behavior for students with the highest number of incidents of unacceptable behavior.

Develop interventions and consequences that enable students to increase their capacity to self-regulate and interact positively and responsibly with others, and in a manner that is developmentally appropriate.

Increase capacity and accountability of administrators and student support specialists to intervene early and effectively with all students, particularly those with the highest needs.

Increase capacity and accountability of teachers to respond to and correct unacceptable behaviors in an effective and respectful manner.

Increase capacity and accountability of district and school administrators to lead effective discipline and student support policies and practices.

Increase capacity and accountability of district and school administrators to lead, support, and supervise highly functioning student support and school intervention teams.